Musicians latest to seek payment from Crystal Cathedral

May 9, 2010

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Freelance musicians Randy Gravett, left, and Don French contracted by the Crystal Cathedral are part of a larger group including technical crew and choir that haven't been paid for their work since January. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Freelance musicians Randy Gravett, left, and Don French contracted by the Crystal Cathedral are part of a larger group including technical crew and choir that haven't been paid for their work since January. Says Gravett, "If they couldn't pay us, why did they hire us?" MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Don French a freelance musician contracted by the Crystal Cathedral is part of a group of four that had filed suit against the church for not being paid for their work since January. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Don French a freelance musician contracted by the Crystal Cathedral is part of a group of four that had filed suit against the church for not being paid for their work since January. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Kristona Oliver, who supplied livestock for Crystal Cathedral's "Glory of Christmas" pageants is on a committee working to get several vendors paid. The church has been struggling financially and has failed to pay many of its bills. FILE PHOTO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Randy Gravett is a freelance musician contracted by the Crystal Cathedral and has been waiting to be paid for his work at the church since the beginning of January. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Sheila Schuller Coleman took over from her father as head of Crystal Cathedral Ministries last year. AP PHOTO

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Freelance musicians Randy Gravett, left, and Don French, contracted by the Crystal Cathedral, have filed a suit in small claims court against the Crystal Cathedral for not being paid for their work since the beginning of January. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Freelance musicians Randy Gravett, left, and Don French contracted by the Crystal Cathedral are part of a larger group including technical crew and choir that haven't been paid for their work since January. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

GARDEN GROVE – Several unpaid musicians who played for Sunday services at the Crystal Cathedral have filed complaints in small claims court in Orange County seeking payment for services provided – the latest vendors to take action against the financially troubled church.

A trumpet player who has performed for 30 years at the megachurch's "Glory of Christmas" pageant has also filed a claim saying he is owed about $3,450 for the 2009 pageant.

"I played every single show, showed up on time every single day," said trumpeter Larry Grossman. "I did my job exactly the way I was supposed to – as I had done it for the last 30 years. I just didn't anticipate any problems."

In addition, Gray Television Inc. filed a civil lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court seeking about $55,500 plus interest, attorneys and lawsuit expenses. According to the April 29 suit, the cathedral owes the television station money "for the reasonable value of the work, labor, advertising services and materials rendered."

Over the last few months, three businesses, including an equipment financing company and two television stations, have filed lawsuits against the Crystal Cathedral stating that the megachurch owes them more than $2 million for services rendered. Several vendors who provided their services during the church's "Glory of Christmas" pageant – including a woman who provides live animals, a props director, wardrobe supervisor and drycleaner -- also came forward saying they are owed tens of thousands of dollars.

Cathedral spokesman John Charles declined to comment about the ongoing talks between the cathedral and its vendors. However, he did say the discussions are progressing well and are "cordial."

Cathedral officials have consistently attributed their financial woes to a flailing economy and a drastic reduction in contributions. Members of the founding Schuller family have also said they are counting on selling the Rancho Capistrano retreat property and a four-story office building on Chapman Avenue to bridge at least a $55-million budget deficit.

Charles said the church is in talks with at least two prospective buyers for the Rancho Capistrano property.

"It's looking good," he said.

Vendors who recently filed claims said they don't want to sue, but don't have a choice.

Many who are owed less than $10,000 or $5,000 said they were not invited to last month's meeting and knew of no other way to get paid other than file a small claims complaint.

Grossman said he "could not afford to sit back and do nothing."

"I did not want to file this claim," he said.

Don French, a keyboard player for the church services and the "Hour of Power" orchestra, said he was not happy to sue at all.

"I've never sued anyone in my life," he said. "And the first time I do, it's a church. I find it appalling myself."

But French, who is owed close to $3,800, said he believes it had to be done.

"What troubles me the most is the cathedral's attitude in not paying us," he said. "When we asked to be paid, we were either ignored or told to get out of the room."

French said one of the orchestra supervisors who went to talk to the church management asking that they pay the musicians got "yelled at" by an administrator.

Randy Gravett, a bass player for 17 years at the Cathedral, said the lawsuit was a last resort for him. The cathedral owes him about $700.

"If you don't do it, there is a very good chance that they will brush you under the carpet because we are the little guys here," he said. "It's not a lot of money, but I filed this claim on principle. When you hire someone, you pay them."

Bill Kilpatrick, a guitarist who is still waiting for a $1,155 check from the cathedral, said he loved being part of the "Hour of Power" orchestra for the last six years.

"But I'm a freelance musician, this is my livelihood," he said. "$1,155 may seem like small potatoes to many. But to me, that's a lot of money."

Some vendors such as Scott Colton, who provided cleaning supplies to the Rancho Capistrano facility, are still waiting to see if they will get paid before having to file a claim. The Cathedral shut down all its operations at the ranch as of March, but weddings scheduled through the end of the year will still take place, cathedral administrators have said.

Colton says the church owes him about $4,500 and that he has stopped providing the supplies, something he had been doing for the last 15 years.

"I can't and I won't send in any more supplies until I get paid," he said.

One vendor who did get paid this week was G & F Concrete Cutting, a Santa Ana-based company that cuts memorial stones for the Cathedral's Walk of Faith, a source of fundraising for the church.

Owner Rita Ferguson said she filed a small claims complaint to get the church to pay $6,000 they owed her company. The case went to court Monday when the Cathedral asked to vacate the judgment and agreed to pay the amount in full, Ferguson said.

"Not paying was a very rare thing with them," she said. "Even through this, they have been extremely helpful, upfront and cordial. They understood that this was something I had to do to protect my rights."

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